PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's lacrosse team opened State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play on Saturday afternoon, looking to get back in the win column, but fell 14-6 to the Bengals. Sophomore attacker Leah Klotz (Highland, N.Y. / Highland) led the Cardinals with three points on a team-high three goals.

Sophomore attacker Ashley O'Hara (Chittenango, N.Y. / The Hill School) also recorded three points, scoring once and adding two assists. Plattsburgh's other goals came from senior attacker Cynthia Barnosky (Shirley, N.Y. / William Floyd) and senior midfielder Anna Myers (Saugerties, N.Y. / Saugerties). Defensively, first-year midfielder Juliana Conley (Valhalla, N.Y. / Valhalla) collected a career-high five ground balls, while junior midfielder Chase Calandra (Rome, N.Y. / Rome Free Academy) secured a career-high four draw controls. First-year goalie Lauren Piscazzi (Merrick, N.Y. / John F. Kennedy) made eight saves in the loss.

For the Bengals, Vanessa Willick and Emilee Josker each finished with a game-high six points, with Willick scoring six goals and Josker tallying four goals and two assists. Willick also led all players with eight draw controls, while Brielle Lum made five saves to earn the win.

Plattsburgh kept the draw control battle close, finishing with 10 compared to Buffalo State's 12. The Bengals held advantages in shots, 34-21, and ground balls, 24-15. Both teams had five free-position attempts, with Plattsburgh converting once and Buffalo State scoring twice. The Cardinals went 16-for-25 on clears, while the Bengals finished 11-for-16.

The Bengals jumped out to an early lead, scoring back-to-back goals before Klotz got Plattsburgh on the board at the 4:29 mark to make it 2-1, a score that held through the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter featured long possessions from both sides, with each team working deep into the shot clock. Buffalo State opened the scoring at 10:48, and the game remained quiet until O'Hara found the back of the net at 5:46 to pull the Cardinals within 4-2. Both teams then traded late goals, sending Plattsburgh into halftime trailing 5-3.

Buffalo State added to its lead in the third, scoring two straight goals before Barnosky ended the run with a tally at the 7:39 mark off a feed from Maggie Maurer (Stony Point, N.Y. / North Rockland). The Bengals quickly answered to halt Plattsburgh's momentum, pushing their lead to 8-4 with 7:18 remaining. Both teams added another goal late in the quarter, as the Cardinals trailed 9-5 heading into the fourth.

In the final quarter, Buffalo State controlled possession and extended its lead with several goals before Myers broke through late to make it 13-6. That would be Plattsburgh's only goal of the period, as the Cardinals ultimately fell 14-6.

With the loss, Plattsburgh State falls to 1-5 (0-1 SUNYAC) and will return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 25, when the Cardinals host Canton for a 4 p.m. opening draw.